Coin and token separator



Sept. 8, 1936.

w. A. TRATSCH ET AL I COIN AND TOKEN SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Tra iscfi INVENTOR Waller A.

Tiff/7Q ATTORNEYS.

p 1936- w. A. TRATSCH ET AL 2,053,503

COIN AND TOKEN SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ira a 7775MB ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES com AND TQKEN SEPARATOR Walter A. Tratsch and Bernhard C. Grunig, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,153 3 Claims. (01. Mk-102) This invention relates to coin and token separators.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coin and token separator which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and emcient in use.

Another object of the present invention is'to provide a novel and improved coin and token separator which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with token dispensing devices, and which is so constructed that it will permit the amusement apparatus, with which the separator is associated, to be operated either by a token or by a coin of the proper diameter, denomination,

etc., but will discharge the tokens used to operate the device into a storage magazine provided for the reception of the same in the cabinet of the said combination amusement and token dispensing device; and which will discharge the coins which are used to operate the device into a separate receptacle provided therefor in the cabinet of the combination amusement and token dispensing device in conjunction with which the present separator is used, thereby assuring that the combination amusement and token vending device with which the present separator is used will vend only tokens, redeemable in merchandise, prizes or the like, and not coins.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by ref-' erence to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a combination amusement and token vending device showing a preferred form of the present coin and token separator associated therewith; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the new coin and token separator, on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the parts in their initial or coin-receiving position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on line 3-4? in Fig. 2'; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, on

line 4-0 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view on line 5-5 in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view showing-the parts in token or'coin-discharging position;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan view, on line 'i--'I in Fig. 6, showing the parts in full stroke position;

M Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. '1 but showing the parts in a position about midway between coin or tokenreceiving position and coin or token-dispensing position; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 5 9-9 in Fig. 3. r

A preferred form of the present coin and token separator is shown in the drawings, is therein generally indicated at it, and is shown in its preferred use, namely, as used in conjunction with a combination amusement and token vending device, which is generally indicated at H (Fig. 1), this combination amusement and token vending device it including a token storage magazine or receptacle i2 provided inthe cabinet of the same 5 (Figs. 2, 6, and 9) for the reception of tokens which may be dispensed from the device (by means not shown) by the successful operation of the same, and which tokens may either be used for operating the device, that is, for releasing the 20 coin control, or for purchasing merchandise, as the proprietor of the device and the player may desire.

The new coin and token separator it comprises a guide structure, which is generally indi- 25 cated at B3, and a coin slide M, the guide structure it being provided with a face plate or mounting plate, it, by means of which the present coin and token separator may be attached to a wall it of the cabinet of the combination to amusement and token vending device ii (Fig. 2,); and the separator i0 is also provided with the usual dogs and other fraud prevention devices, generally indicated at H, for preventing the use of spurious or fraudulent coins or tokens, 35 such devices being preferably those described, in Patents Nos. 1,908,380 and 1,908,752. It is also to be noted that the present coin and token separator is shown as being associated with a coin chute of the general functional type de- 40 scribed in the above-mentioned Patents Nos.

1,908,380 and 1,908,752 it being understood that slight modifications of these devices may be necessary, such as will be apparent from the following description, and hence only so much of 45 the construction of that coin chute will be described herein as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention. A

Provided in the guide structure i3 is a depressed ledge 42 on to which coins or tokens 0 are discharged from the coin aperture IQ of the coin slide it and, in addition to the usual devices ll for preventing the use of spurious or fraudulent coins or tokens, the present coin and token separator is preferably provided with a sight opening or pocket I8 into which the coins or tokens are discharged from the depressed ledge 42 (Fig. 6), this sight opening I8 being formed, in part, as a recess or opening which is provided in a wall 20 of the guide structure I3, the construction of this sight opening or pocket I8 being more fully described and claimed in the applicants copending application, Serial No. 11,103, filed March 14, 1935, which has matured into Patent No. 2,026,921.

When a coin or token is disposed in the sight opening or pocket I8 it rests upon the bottom wall 2| of a guide structure 22 which is arranged below the guide structure I3. Carried by this guide structure 22 is an auxiliary slide 23 and this guide structure 22 is supported by, and is suspended from, the guide structure I3. Provided in the lower or auxiliary slide 23 is a coin or token-receiving aperture 38 having an open side 58 formed by cutting away a portion of edge 21 of slide 23 opposite this aperture 38.

Formed in the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22 (Figs. 4, 5, '7 and 8) is a substantially oval-shaped token discharge aperture 24, and likewise formed in the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22 is a coin discharge aperture 25, these discharge apertures 24 and 25 being separated by a transverse web 26 which forms a part of the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22.

Extending along one longitudinal edge 21 of the bottom or auxiliary slide 23, and supported by the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) and in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22, is a pressure or wedge bar 28 which is I urged against the edge portion 21 of the lower or auxiliary slide 23 (bottom to top, Figs. 7 and 8) by two springs 28, the pressure bar 28 being keyed by projection 52 in slot 54 in side 38 of the guide, structure 22, to slide upon the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22, and between slide 30 and the edge 21 of the slide 23. It will be noted that an edge portion of bar 28 confronts the open side 58 in slide 23.

Formed in one longitudinal or side edge of the pressure bar 28 are two spaced indentations, cutout portions, or recesses 3| and 32 (Figs. 7 and 8). The recess or notch 3| normally confronts the open side 58 of aperture 38 in slide 23.

Carried by the lower or auxiliary slide 23 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a stud or post 33 which projects upwardly into and through a slot 34 which is formed in the slide I4, the slide -I4 including an angled portion 35 which is arranged at one end (Fig. 3).

Likewise carried by the lower slide 23 and depending therefrom is a stud or projection (Fig. 4) and attached to this stud 36 is a resetting spring 31, this stud 36 projecting into the bottom discharge slot 25 and. being adapted to work in an extension 38 of the same.

Operation The tokens or checks used with the present token and coin separator are somewhat smaller in diameter than the coins used in connection with the same, and the coin slide and receiving mechanisms of the above mentioned Patents 1,908,380 and 1,908,752 are understood to be modifled suitably to accommodate coins and tokens varying in diameter within limits contemplated by the present specification. Accordingly, when a token or check of the intended and proper diameter is placed in the coin aperture I8 of the slide I4 and the latter is pushed inwardly (left to right, Fig. 2), the token or check will drop from the coin aperture I9 ofthe coin slide I4 onto the depressed ledge 42 from which it will be dislodged by the depressed tooth 43 of the slide I4 into the sight opening or pocket I8 wherein it will be disposed upon the upper surface of the lower slide 23, it being understood that when the upper slide I4 is pushed inwardly (left to right, Figs. 2 and 3) the extension 35 engages the post or stud 33, whereupon the two slides I4 and 23 move together, thus moving the aperture 38 in the lower slide 23 out of registration with the sight opening or pocket I8, this movement of the two slides I4 and 23 being made against the action of the resetting spring 31 and the stud 36, during this'operation, working in the slot 38.

Accordingly. when theparts are movedto full coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23.

Accordingly, when the coin slides I4 and 23 are again moved inwardly, as above set forth, the token or check which (as distinguished from a coin) is now disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23 will be moved into registration with the token discharge aperture 24 whereupon it will be discharged through the substantially oval-shaped discharge aperture 24 (Figs. 2 and 4) into the token storage magazine or receptacle I2, from which it may be dispensed or ejected by means of the token or check dispensing apparatus with which the present coin separator is intended to be associated.

This latter action occurs because the token, being of slightly less diameter than a coin, is not restrained in any way when it is moved into position over aperture 24, whereas a coin would be of larger diameter than aperture 24 and also be bar 28, because an edge portion of the coin would be exposed through opening 58, for engagement with bar 28, and being thus held and guided the coin is carried beyond token aperture 24 to coin aperture 25 where it is released when its edge encounters notch 32 in bar 28.

Thus, when a coin of the intended and proper diameter is inserted into the coin aperture I8 of the coin slide I4 and the latter and the lower slide 23 are pushed inwardly (left to right, Fig. 2), and are retracted into their initial or coin-receiving positions, the coin which is at this time disposed in the sight opening I8, upon the upper surface of the lower slide 23, will fall into the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, and in this-position a part of the peripheral edge portion of the coin will be disposed in, or will project into, the notched or cut-out portion 3| of the pressure bar 28, whereupon, when the bottom slide 23 is again moved inwardly (left to right, Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

, and 8), the coin, being slightly larger in diameter guide structure 22, will pass, along the upper surface of the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22, over the token-discharge aperture 24 and across the transverse web portion 26 of the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22, which web portion or partition 26 separates the coin discharge aperture 25 from the token discharge aperture 24. During this movement the peripheral edge portion of the coin, which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23, will ride out of the notched portion 3| of the pressure bar 28 and will bear against the edge or wall 4| of the latter, thereby tensioning or compressing the springs 29 and thus causing the springs 29 to urge the pressure bar 28 into engagement with the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23. This pressure of the bar 28 against the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23 will cause the said coin to remain in a horizontal plane, as it passes over the tokendischarge aperture 24 and prevents the forward or advancing peripheral edge portion of the said coin from tilting or nosing downwardly as it passes over the coin discharge aperture 24, thus preventing the forward or advancing peripheral edge portion of the coin from engaging and jamming with the transverse wall 26 which separatesv the token-discharge aperture 2% from the coin discharge aperture 25.

Accordingly, as the coin slides it and 23 are moved further inwardly (left to right, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) the coin, which is at this time disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, will travel over the upper surface of the bottom wall 20 of the guide structure 22, and over the transverse web 26 which separates the coin discharge, aperture 25 from the-token discharge aperture 24 (Figs. 6, '7 and 8), and will thus eventually be moved into registration with the coin discharge aperture 25, it being noted that during this movement the coin moves progressively toward the position in which the coin aperture 38 is shown in Fig. 7, that is, into the position beyond the cylinder E2 in which the coin is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6; and during thisrmovement, it is repeated for emphasis, a part of the peripheral edge portion of the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower coin slide 23 bears against the edge or wall at of the pressure bar 28, thereby tensioning or compressing the springs 29, and when the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, comes into registration with the coin discharge aperture 25 that part of the peripheral edge portion of the coin which bear against the edge or wall ii of the pressure bar 28 will fall into the notched or recessed portion 32 of the pressure bar 28, thereby relieving the pressure of the coin upon the pressure bar 28 and the. springs 29, whereupon the said coin will fall through the coin discharge aperture 25 into a suitable receptacle which may be provided therefor in the cabinet of the apparatus H with which the present coin and token separator is associated.

The coin slides 23 and M will then be reset into their initial or coin receiving positions (as in Fig. 2) the tensioned resetting spring'tl urging slide 23 to its initial position, and also urging slide M part of the distance to its initial position, it being necessary to retract slide it manually the remainder of the distance.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our in-' vention into eflect, this is capable of variation and of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin and token separator comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a coin or token receiving aperture; a second guide structure supported by and arranged below the said firstnamed guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with a token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture, said dis-' charge apertures being spaced from each other and the said coin discharge aperture being slightly larger in diameter than the said token discharge aperture; a coin slide carried by the said second-named guide structure for movement by, and in a plane substantially parallel to and below, the said first-named slide, and said second-named slide having a token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein with an open side wall opening into the edge'of the same said slide and adapted to receive a coin or token discharged from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide; and means coacting with the said second-named slide to support a coin having a diameter slightly greater than that of the said token discharge aperture in a substantially horizontal plane in the said coin aperture of said second-named slide during movement of the said coin past the said token discharge aperture and into the said coin discharge aperture.

2. A coin and token separator'comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a coin or token receiving aperture; a second guide structure supported by and arranged below the said firstnamed guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with a. token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture; said discharge apertures being spaced from each other and the said coin discharge aperture being slightly larger in diameter than the said token discharge aperture; a coin slide carried by the said second-named guide structure for movement controlled by said first coin slide in a plane substantially parallel to but below the said first-named slide; said second-named slide having an open sided token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein adapted to receive'a coin or token after the discharge of the same from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide; and means coacting with the said second-named slide to support a coin having a diameter slightly greater than that of the said token discharge aperture in a substantially horizontal plane in the said coin aperture of said second-named slide so that the said coin may be moved past the said token discharge aperture and into the said coin discharge aperture; said-means comprising 'a pressure bar carried by the said second-named guide structure and including an edge portion having a pair of spaced notches or indentations formed therein; the said coin aperture in the said secondnamed slide being disposed to have its aforesaid open side in registration with one of said notches.

or indentations when the said second-named slide is in its normal or initial position; and the said coin discharge aperture being disposed in registration with the other of said notches.

3. A coin and token separator comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a coin or token receiving aperture; a second guide structure supported by and arranged'below the said firstnamed guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with a token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture; said discharge apertures being spaced from each other and the said coin discharge aperture being slightly larger in diameter than the said token discharge aperture; a coin slide carried by the said second-named guide structure having means for operative engagement by said first slide for movement in a plane substantially parallel to but below the said first-named slide; said second-named slide having a token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein disposed to receive a coin or token after the discharge of the same from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide and adapted to expose an edge portion of a said coin or token for engagement with coin supporting means; means coacting with the said secondnamed slide to support a coin having a diameter sl ghtly greater than that oi the said token discharge aperture in a substantially horizontal plane in the said coin aperture of said secondnamed slide so that the said coin may be moved uniformly past the said token discharge aperture and into the said coin discharge aperture; said means comprising a pressure bar carried by the said second-named guide structure and including an edge portion having a pair of spaced notches or indentations formed therein; the said coin aperture of the said second-named slide being further disposed to expose a said coin or token edge in registration with one of said notches when the said second-named slide is in its normal or initial position; and the said coin discharge aperture being disposed in registration with the other of said notches; and means carried by the said second-named guide structure for urging the said-edge portion of said pressure bar into engagement with said second-named slide.

WALTER A. TRATSCH. BERNHARD C. GRUNIG. 

